If you missed our live stream, check out some of our favorite moments from John Fullbright's performance, plus the entire show!
It's hard to believe when listening to his debut album that singer-songwriter John Fullbright is only 24 years old. The native Oklahoman's body of work rings with both a sense of self-assurance and an emotional depth that's not generally found from such a young source.
However, Fullbright's been honing his craft since he was really a kid. Growing up in Okemah--the birthplace of Woody Guthrie--Fullbright was drawn to music early on, getting his hands into his mother's record collection and taking up piano in elementary school. By his teen years, his songwriting was nuanced enough for indoctrination into legendary local club the Blue Door. The owner of the venue, who'd seen everyone from Jimmy Webb to Arlo Guthrie on his stage, was so impressed by Fullbright's work that he decided to become his manager.
"John's songs remind me of people like Kris Kristofferson and John Prine--just really great songwriters," he told the Los Angeles Times.
He's not the only fan with such high praise out there. Jimmy Webb--famous for his compositions such as "Wichita Lineman," "Galveston," "MacArthur Park," and a host of other genre-crossing classics--thinks Fullbright is special as well. "I have no doubt that in a short time, John Fullbright will be a household name in American music," he notes.
A live album recorded at the Blue Door was released in 2009 to rave reviews, but Fullbright began receiving serious amounts of hype after appearing at this year's South By Southwest in Austin. His sound? It's not really country, not Americana, not blues, not gospel; but a unique blend of all of these--anchored by a rich storyteller's vibe in every song.
Fullbright's From The Ground Up debuts on Tuesday, and he'll perform the album live from Bob Weir's T.R.I. Studios to commemorate its release. Yahoo! Music is pleased to provide a live stream of the performance, and please be sure to let us know what you think of this talented newcomer!